As if this situation is not. in itself. serious enough. Public Law 78 gives Mexican farmworkers better protections than we afford our own citizens engaged in farmwork. Mexican nationals are provided workmens compensation. free housing while at employment centers. free transportation from Mexican migrant stations to reception centers in the United States. guarantees of minimum work periods. and guarantees of wages not less than the prevailing wages paid to domestic farmworkers for similar work within the area of employment. This year. Congress is considering the continuation of this program in its present form. Although such an extension will adversely affect our domestic farmworkers. its real impact will be felt by our migratory workers who are already at the bottom of the economic and social scale. It was. therefore. with a great deal of interest that I noted an excellent editorial in the Louisville (Ky.) CourierJournal on May 17. entitled "Farm Migrants May Get a Break at Last." The editorial points out thatThe Mexicans. who flock thankfully from depressed villages and rural areas. are an effective guarantee that there will be a surplus of domestic migrant workers. The latter. therefore. will take what they can get as wages and working conditions and are afraid of union attempts to organize them into fighting for something better. It is encouraging to know of the effective work of the Senate Subcommittee onMigratory Labor.
Identified stereotypes
Mexicans are described as 'flocking thankfully from depressed villages and rural areas' and being an 'effective guarantee' of a surplus of domestic migrant workers, implying they are willing to work for less and undermine domestic workers.